NORFOLK, Va. -- The fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels needed overtime against Old Dominion to keep their undefeated record intact on Thursday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center as they slipped by with an 88-80 victory.

The win improved the Tar Heels to a perfect 12-0, while the Lady Monarchs fell to 2-6 having played their fourth ranked opponent of the season and third in the nation's top ten.

North Carolina's Ivory Latta poured in a career-high 33 points going 8-for-17 from the field and 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. ODU's Tish Lyons (Newport News, Va.) led the Lady Monarch with 20 points, tying her career-high. Fellow classmate Shantel Wilson (Washington, D.C.) earned her second double-double of her career tying her career-high of 10 points and hauling in a career-high 12 rebounds.

Old Dominion held the lead for the majority of the game, as the Tar Heels were only able to establish their first lead of the night with 4:25 left in regulation.

Old Dominion became the first Carolina opponent thus far this season to hold a lead at the half. The Lady Monarchs led 40-37 and had as much as a 13-point advantage. The game opened with Old Dominion collecting a 21-8 edge by the 12:44 mark, fueled in part by 10 points from sophomore T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.).

With the Lady Monarchs leading 37-27 at the 5:48 mark, the Tar Heels made a 10-3 run for the 40-37 halftime score.

North Carolina pulled to within one, 47-46, at the 16:42 mark of the second half prompting Old Dominion head coach Wendy Larry to use a timeout. Following the 30-second break, the Lady Monarchs went on a 15-5 tear to once again lead by double digits. Junior Shantel Wilson (Washington, D.C.) hit just the second three-pointer of her career to give Old Dominion a 62-52 edge with 9:39 in regulation.

The Tar Heels, however, used a 17-2 run to get back into the game during which Latta scored 10 of her career-high 33 points. North Carolina's Alex Miller drained a three to tie the game at 64 with 5:54 left in the half and Erlana Larkins gave the Tar Heels its first lead of the night with a lay-up with 4:25 on the clock.

North Carolina led by five, 64-69, with 3:21 left in regulation as Latta completed the traditional three-point play, but the pesky Old Dominion defense kept the Tar Heels away from their basket as they collected eight unanswered points. The Lady Monarchs held a 72-69 edge with one minute remaining in the second half.

With time winding down in regulation, Larkins made her way to the basket to cut ODU's lead down to one. A Lady Monarch turnover gave the Tar Heels a chance to regain the lead as Wilson was called for an intentional four. North Carolina's Camille Little went to the line for two shots, making the first to tie the game at 72-72, but missed the second, forcing overtime.

In overtime, North Carolina outscored Old Dominion, 16-8, for the win, which saw Latta score eight of those points.

Two other Lady Monarchs joined Lyons and Wilson in double digit scoring. Sophomore Shahida Williams (Newark, N.J.) came off the bench for 13 points and nearly missed a double-double with nine boards. Junior Sherida Triggs (Norcross, Ga.) added in 15 and also nearly missed a double-double with nine rebounds as well. Old Dominion outboarded the ranked Tar Heels, 50-41.

Larkins added in 18 points for North Carolina and Little recorded 14 in the victory. Additionally, Latta had nine assists on the night.

The Lady Monarchs return to action on Monday, January 2nd at top-ranked Tennessee. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.